Fire Chief Stoner addresses concerns

The Houston County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday evening and approved several business matters that were addressed at the end by a concerned resident who wants to see the Houston County Fire Department expand.

Robert Braley, Houston County resident, first thanked Chairman Tommy Stalnaker and the commissioners for the work they have done and continue to do. Braley then went on to address that he saw the recent television interview with Houston County Fire Chief Chris Stoner regarding the home that was struck by lightning and caught fire.

“The chief stated in his interview that the department’s budget hadn’t changed since 2001 and that he has 21 active paid firemen,” Braley said. “Is there anyway we can increase the budget to where each station has at least two fulltime paid firefighters and split them up to where the week and weekends are covered? I think it would save a lot of time on response, but I don’t know what the cost would be. Houston County has grown, and y’all know that. I do know y’all are trying to build new stations, but I think we should try and build personnel. Maybe you all are doing that, but I just wanted to share my thoughts.”

Stalnaker asked Braley to hold his position while he asked Stoner to address the matter. “I think some of the information that was put out there was misinterpreted, and not totally true,” Stalnaker said.

Stoner addressed Braley, stating that the news interview was a short snippet of the long conversation he had.

“It came off slightly misrepresented,” Stoner said. “The millage rate may not have increased, but the actual revenue has increased in our budget. Especially in the last six years. In the last year’s alone, we’ve added over a million dollars to our budget for personnel expenses as well as over six million in our capital investments. We are moving forward, and we have the station on Lake Joy getting ready to open. That one will be staffed 24 hours, seven days a week with two fulltime paid personnel. Following that, we already have land in Bonaire, and have started the clearing process. As soon as Lake Joy is done, we will be transitioning over and beginning the development phases. It will also increase staffing as well as be manned 24/7. I don’t want everyone to think that the commissioners haven’t given us any money, because we certainly have almost doubled our budget.”

Stoner went on to address how much the volunteers of the Houston County Fire Department have helped the taxpayers.

“In 2019 alone, in personnel hours, if they were paid for the amount of time they put in, it was almost $500,000 of time they devoted to the county, so that saved the taxpayers that much just from the volunteer base we have now. “I will say we’re always looking for volunteers; we’ll put them through training. It’s a good reward, giving back to your community, and those volunteers help offset those personnel expenses. Our normal response time on the weekends is 13 minutes and during the week with our paid staff, our response time is seven minutes. So really, it’s not that much longer on the volunteer time. Our department has some of the best, and they all do an amazing job.”

Stalnaker said the fire department has come a long way, but there’s a lot of progress to be made.

“We have made a lot of progress in the last six years, and we will continue to do so in the next six plus,” Stalnaker said. “We are doing everything we can, and we appreciate your (Braley’s) feedback.”

During the meeting, commissioners unanimously approved the proposed LMIG (Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant) priority list to be submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation. The estimated grant funding would total $801,638, and the 30% mandatory match from the county is $240,491.40.

The list includes:

•1st Street (Elko) from Pine Street to Plum Street, 0.18 miles

•Eastwick Drive from GA Hwy 127 to Moody Road, 0.40 miles

•Duke Lane from Grove Lane to Cul-de-sac, 0.89 miles

•County Line Road from Loggins Road to Dooly County Line, 0.75 miles

•Briarmoor Drive from Pheasant Ridge to Pheasant Ridge, 0.77 miles

•Shady Grove Lane from Sandefur Road to Cul-de-sac, 0.31 miles

•Sweetwater Drive from Feagin Mill Road to Warner Robins City Limits, 0.56 miles

•Fairways Drive from Statham’s Way to Statham’s Way, 1.22 miles

•Grovania Road from US 341 to RR Crossing, 3.40 miles

•Quail Run Drive from Tharpe Road to Cul-de-sac, 0.53 miles

•Esterine Drive from Houston Lake Road to Crystal Court, 0.55 miles

•A.E. Harris Road from GA Hwy 247 to End of Pavement, 0.75 miles.

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